Information about Les Bursill
More about Les Bursill
In consultation with key stakeholders, the name ‘Les Bursill Walkway’ has been proposed for the Bundeena Memorial Reserve section of the Bundeena – Maianbar Heritage Walk in honour of the late Dharawal Elder Leslie (Les) William Bursill OAM (1945-2019).
Les Bursill was well known and respected within the local community for his work in promoting Aboriginal cultural heritage and the protection of the environment. He led numerous tours through Sutherland Shire National Parks, sharing Dreaming stories and showcasing historical landmarks. Over his career, he identified and named more than 300 archaeological sites.
Les Bursill also published numerous works on Aboriginal language, history, and social issues and co-founded Dharawal Publishing Inc. which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Dharawal culture, language, and history. Notably, he co-authored Dharawal: The Story of the Dharawal Speaking People of Southern Sydney with Mary Jacobs in 2007.
He is remembered especially for his efforts in building understanding of Dharawal culture within the Sutherland Shire.
Leader article on Les Bursill (2019)
Autobiography on Les Bursill